Bahram Chooses War

The dark night lifted like a musk-scented veil, and the sun revealed its face. The border lord came to the court, before the king, and the noblemen opened the way. The world's ruler summoned Bahram close and seated him on the throne above the great ones. Then he asked: should I make peace with Saveh Shah, or should I send an army? The warrior answered him: there is no way to make peace with Saveh Shah. If he means to prepare for war, then asking for peace is nothing but retreat. And besides, your enemy grows bold when he sees your ambition brought low. If you offer a feast when the time calls for battle, this ruling will look like submission. Hormoz said to him: then what is your counsel? Should I delay, or should I move at once? He answered: if the ill-wisher turns his head from justice, war is the better omen. What did that wise and worthy man say? That tyranny has no place beside justice. Seek battle with your evil-doing enemy, for you are bringing fire and water into one stream. And if the matter turns out otherwise, the ancient heavens will choose a new king. When we put the strength of our own arms to work, we bring forward every skill we have. There will be no reproach from the pure God, and no shame before the heroes when it is examined. But if, before ten thousand Iranians even fall, we foolishly turn our heads from battle, what will the fault-finding enemy say of you, that you fled the ill-wisher without a fight? When we rain arrows down upon the enemy and make our bows like spring clouds, when sword and mace, a hundred thousand strong, shatter on the field of battle, if our victory still does not appear, we must not lose heart from our fortune. And after that, we submit to the enemy only when we are senseless, lifeless, and broken. We will struggle against the turning of the heavens, even if our time comes to an end in the fight. When the king heard Bahram's words, he laughed, and the court grew bright. They left the ruler's presence, the seasoned ones, their hearts full of blood. They said to Bahram: when he questions you in council, do not be so reckless in your boldness. Saveh Shah has an army so vast it blocks the path even to ants and gnats. The way you spoke before the king, who would dare to be the commander of that army? Bahram said this to the chieftains: O renowned ones and mighty warriors, when the famous king gives the order, I am the one prepared to lead the army. The alert and watchful scouts went off at once to the king of the world. Bahram's words, however many he spoke, one poet turned each of them into ten. The king of Iran was gladdened by this, and freed from worry over that army. He made him commander over his troops, one who could lift his head into the clouds in battle. Everyone among the brave who sought glory called Bahram their general. The general came before the king and said, 'Let me hold a muster to count the troops.' 'Let me see which of the army are fit for war, and which will hang back when it is time to win renown.' The king said to him, 'You are the commander; the good and the bad of it all return to you.' The general went to the king's parade ground and ordered the army to pass before him. He chose an army from among the Iranians, everyone who was a crowned chief among the leaders. They wrote down the names of twelve thousand, armored men and riders in mailed horse-barding. They enrolled only those forty years of age; to spend a coin on any older or younger was forbidden. The commander was Bahram, son of Bahram, who had a name for seeking out the fight. There was one whose name was 'Hero-Chest,' whose chest and heart were full of vengeance. He made him chief of the warlike nobles, to come to the front of the line on the day of battle, to wheel his horse and proclaim his lineage, and stir the memory of past battles in the warriors' hearts. Another was named Izadgoshasp, who never turned his horse's face back from the fire of war. He ordered him to guard the baggage train, and to align the left wing evenly with the right. At the rear of the army was Hamdan-Goshasp, who could seize a lion's tail from horseback. Then the champion spoke to the army: 'O renowned men of bright souls,' 'Cause little harm and take little loss; never gird yourselves for wickedness.' 'If you want God to be your ally, He will make this dark marketplace of yours bright.' When, in the dark night, the trumpet's cry rose up, the whole army stirred from its place. They drove the horses forward all as one, so that if the sun should rise in the dark night, from the strength and readiness of horse and man, it would give no thought to the day of battle. When word reached the king of how wise Bahram had arranged everything, he was gladdened by his words and deeds; he opened the treasury and gave out pay. He threw open all the arsenals of war in Pars and in Ahvaz. Of the war-horses he had running free, he brought several herds into the city. He ordered that the army's champion should ask the king for whatever he needed. Thus the king said to Bahram, 'You who have surveyed war from every angle,' You have heard how much the famous Saveh Shah commands in weapons, treasure, and troops. When his Turkish soldiers go to war on the day of vengeance, the very ground trembles on the battlefield. You chose from the army twelve thousand armored riders on barded horses. With only this many men on the day of combat, I don't know how this task will turn out. Instead of young swordsmen, you asked the assembly for men of forty. The commander answered him this way: 'O king of good fortune and honest speech, you have heard the tale of the great ones who came before, kings of the world, that when victorious fortune is on your side, it is fine even if you have fewer allies. I have proof for this tale as well, if the ruling king will listen: when the people of Hamavaran captured King Kavus with an endless army, Rostam picked twelve thousand of the worthiest brave horsemen, and brought King Kavus out of chains, and no harm came to those famed warriors. So too Gudarz, son of Keshvad, chief of the noble and free-born, to avenge Siavash brought twelve thousand riders on barded horses. And the worthy Esfandiar also brought twelve thousand fighting men, and did to Arjasp all that he did, and turned that army and fortress to dust. If the army grows larger than this number, it moves beyond courage and sound judgment. A commander who brings three or four times too many troops to war will shrink from the fight. As for your saying that a man of forty seeks battle no more eagerly than a youth, the forty-year-old has experience, and in bravery he is greater still. He remembers the bond of bread and salt, and many turns of fate have passed over him. He fears the slanderer's tongue and cares for his good name, so he does not turn from the fight. For the sake of wife, children, and household, the worn man's spirit stirs itself. A youth sees a thing and takes the bait; when it's time to hold back, he has no patience. He has no wife, no child, no field, no craft; he sets no value on what is worthless or worthy. Since wisdom comes only through experience, he does not weigh the true stakes of things. If he happens to win in battle, he grows glad and laughing and lingers there. But if the enemy gains any advantage over him, that enemy sees nothing of him but his back. When the king heard his words, he grew as fresh as a flower in spring. He said to him: 'Go, put on your battle armor, and pass from the palace to the field.' The commander came from the king's side and asked for a belt, a coat of mail, armor, and a helmet. He threw the horse-armor over his bay steed and tied a coiled lasso to the saddle straps. The world-seeker, with ball and mallet and arrows, rode out to the field, himself and the minister. The commander came to the king's field and rolled in the dust before the army. When the world-ruler saw him, he offered praise, and the commander kissed the ground. Then the king brought out that banner whose emblem was a purple dragon. It had once gone before Rostam on the day of battle; the king of Iran swiftly took it in hand. When he had touched it, smiling, he gave it to Bahram, and heaped much praise upon him. He said to Bahram: my forefathers used to call this the chief of the whole assembly. That is, its owner was Rostam the champion, world-conqueror, victorious, and clear of soul. This standard you hold in your hand was his; may you be victorious and serve your king. I think you are another Rostam in courage, in valor, and in obedience. Then he praised him, saying: be triumphant and clear of soul. He came from the field to his seat, the commander with Rostam's standard in hand. The king's warriors dispersed, and the army's commander was joyful. When the dawn raised its head over the mountain, that shining golden shield appeared. The commander came to the king's palace, arms folded in respect in that great hall. He said to him: I have come without any excuse; through your glory I have become the crown of the age. I ask one favor of the king: that he send with me a trustworthy man. So that whoever fights and brings an enemy's head down into the dust, he may write that man's name in the record, and his wish will spread through the world. Hormozd said: Mehran the scribe is young, eloquent, and has a good memory. He ordered him to go with the commander, and the commander rushed swiftly toward battle. The army set out from the land of Ctesiphon, with the commander Bahram in the lead. An army wise, brave, and bold, and a vigilant commander like a raging lion. Hormozd said to the chief priest: the man is brave and glad to be on the field of battle. Now tell me what will come of this; every possibility should be weighed. The priest said to him: may you live forever, for you truly deserve eternal life. Given this hero's stature and bearing, and his sharp tongue and bright soul, he can only be joyful and victorious, and through him the king's enemies will be overthrown. I fear that in the end he too will turn his head away from God, the sustaining king. In his words he showed great boldness; speaking to the king, he was fierce as a lion. Hormoz said to him: Do not smear your feet with poison, you who think ill of the world. Since he has triumphed over Saveh Shah, it is fitting that I hand him the crown and throne. May it be so, and never otherwise, that he becomes a king who is blessed. When the priest heard these words from the king, he wilted and bit his lip in worry. The king kept this thought in his heart until these days came to pass. From the court he sought out a keeper of secrets to look into this matter and learn the truth. He said to him sharply: Go after the commander, and when you see what happens, report it to me. The eloquent man hurried off behind him, and no one was aware of his errand. He was both a guide and a reader of omens; you would ask him the outcome of every affair. When Bahram set out from Ctesiphon, he rode along with his spear held before him. A head seller came toward him on the road, some distance from the army's commander. He carried a tray fixed upon his head, and on it he had many washed heads. Startled, the general spurred his horse and lifted one of those heads on the point of his lance. He rode on until he raised the spear straight, then hurled the head to the side he wished. He made an omen of that head, saying: In just this way I will cut off Saveh Shah's head. I will cast it down before his army and throw all his troops into confusion. When the king's messenger saw this, he cast an omen from it, as was fitting. He said: This man of triumphant fortune will in the end win a throne through this toil. After that, once he grasps his heart's desire in his fist, he will turn from the king and grow harsh. He came before the king and told him this, and the ruler was joined with pain and grief. Those words were worse to him than death; he wilted, and that green leaf turned dark. He summoned a messenger from the young man's court and sent him swiftly after the commander. He told him: Go and say to the general: Tonight do not move from where you are. At dawn turn back and come to me; I want to empty the place of strangers. I will give you whatever advice I have, some words I recall that will be useful to you. The messenger came to the commander and told the young man what he had heard. He answered thus: One does not call an army back from its march, O wise king. Turning back from the road bodes ill as an omen; the enemy would only be emboldened by this. When I win, I will come to you and light up your army and your land with banners. The messenger came to the king and repeated what he had heard from that seeker of battle. The king was pleased by his words, and all the courier's toil turned out worthless. At dawn the commander led his army forward, calling the name of God over them. He marched to the land of Khuzestan, and not a single man of the army came to harm. A woman with a sack half full of straw went hurrying through the ranks. A horseman came and bought that sack, but paid nothing and turned his neck away in scorn. Crying out, she came to Bahram and said: I had a little store of straw hidden away. I was carrying it to sell, one sackful, and I passed before your army. Now on the road a horseman has taken it from me, one who wears an iron helmet on his head. At once they sought out that man and dragged him swiftly before the commander. Brave Bahram said to the man who had seized it: the crime you committed will cost you your head. They rushed him before the great tent and smashed his head and hands and feet to pieces. He cut his body in two with a dagger, and so struck fear into every man of injustice. A cry rose from the tent: O renowned men of pure intent, whoever seizes even a blade of straw from anyone will find no one to plead his case. I will cut his body in two with a dagger. Buy what you need with silver. Hormoz was tormented by his worries about Saveh's army, his elephants, and his treasure. As his thoughts grew many upon his heart, he became full of pain and grief over Bahram. His soul was full of sorrow, his heart split in two, and he carried fear and dread within it. When the dark night thrust its head above the moon's tower, the king spoke thus to Khorrad Borzin: Prepare yourself to go to the enemy; strive, and do not rest from riding hard. Observe his army: how many and what kind. Who is the commander, and who are the champions? He ordered a letter of counsel to be written to that man who had suffered so much harm. It came with a royal gift so great it could not be counted. He told the messenger: go toward Herat, and keep going until an army appears. Know then that it is Bahram, the warrior; do not think it is some other army. From there hurry close to Bahram and tell him everything you have heard. Say to him: with promises and favor I mean to spread a fine snare for him. Your secret must not be revealed, if he should hear your name and your voice. I will lure him into your trap; I will speak smooth and lengthy words to draw him in. Khorrad Borzin set out on the road, going toward the place the king had commanded. When he saw Bahram, he told him the words he had kept hidden. From there he went on toward Saveh Shah, to the place of his treasure, his elephants, and his army. He saw him, praised him, and bowed low, then spoke with him in secret about what he had heard. He piled his message with words of every kind, so that the army would move into Herat. When the famed leader reached the plain of Herat, he pitched his tent by the edge of the stream. A scout came riding out from the army and saw Bahram with his troops. The scout, seeing that brave force, came running to Saveh Shah. He said: An army has come to the plain of Herat, led by a renowned chief. When Saveh Shah heard these words from him, the questing man fell deep into thought. He called the envoy back from the tent and, in great fury, poured out many words. He said to him: You filthy, deceitful liar, did you never see the fall that follows the height? You came from the court of that contemptible king only to lay a trap for me on the road, to bring a Persian army to war and pitch its tents in the meadows of Herat. Khorrad Borzin answered the king: Compared to your host, theirs is a small army. Do not suspect that it has come with ill intent; this is only a border governor passing through. Or perhaps some seeker of renown, asking protection, has turned his face from his land toward the king, or else a merchant caravan has brought an escort along to travel safely on the road. Who would ever dare to stand against you, even if mountains and seas turned to seek revenge?